Atlanta @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2007 ) Atlanta 2, Minnesota 3
Francisco Liriano looks like he’s back in top form. Tim Hudson hasn’t lost since April.
It’ll be a battle of aces when the Atlanta Braves open up a three-game interleague series at the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Both survivors of Tommy John surgery - a procedure that now seems like it costs pitchers nothing but time - Liriano and Hudson are back to being at the top of their respective staffs and have led their teams to the top of their respective divisions.
The one thing the Minnesota Twins seemed to lack in spring training was an ace in their rotation. Liriano stepped up early and proved that his stuff was back after elbow surgery, beginning the 2010 campaign 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA through May 2.
The American League caught up to the left-hander a little bit after that, as Liriano lost his next three starts while allowing 13 runs in 16 2/3 total innings. But Liriano, 26, made some corrections of his own and got back on top of his game with three straight quality starts.
The Dominican native is coming off a seven-inning effort against Oakland in which he allowed one run and five hits while striking out 10.
Liriano has dominated interleague play in his career, taking care of the weaker National League lineups with a 7-1 record and a 2.65 ERA while averaging 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Braves offense could provide a challenge, however, as it leads the NL with a .354 on-base percentage and ranks second in runs scored. Atlanta pounded out 11 runs and 16 hits in Thursday’s win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to take two of three in that series and push its lead to 2 ½ games over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
Hudson has been just as sharp for the Braves of late, going 5-0 over his last nine starts as Atlanta has surged past the Phillies. The right-hander’s 2.44 ERA ranks 10th in the NL and he has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any start this season.
The veteran did struggle a little bit last time out, however, allowing a season-high nine hits and three earned runs in seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday. Hudson struck out one and walked two in a no-decision.
Hudson spent his first six seasons with the Oakland Athletics in the American League, but has not has much success in interleague play in his career, owning an 11-13 record with a 4.08 ERA.
He’ll have another tough test with the Minnesota offense, which boosts the talents of Justin Morneau and reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer. Morneau leads the majors with a 1.139 OPS and ranks second with a .365 batting average.
Morneau and Mauer had two hits and two RBIs apiece on Thursday but the Twins fell to the Kansas City Royals 9-8.